Description

Formerly a trad route with somewhat shaky rock, retro-bolting and aggressive cleaning have created one of the better 5.9 sport routes in BCC. The first three bolts protect increasingly steep climbing, culminating in a wild overhanging layback up a hollow flake (the creaking plank). Above, three more bolts protect a slabby but airy traverse and spectacular climbing just left of an arête. Above, stay left of the Red Gorilla/Nimbus chains on the face of a block-like feature past a bolt, then up to the last bolt protecting a boulder move to hidden chains. See the photo-topo on the Orbital Decay page.

Location

Follow the approach for Starstruck. Once on the ledge system from which Starstruck starts, walk east on the ledge, eventually passing under the slightly overhanging bolt lines of Red Gorilla and Nimbus, to a point where the ledge begins to die out and downclimbing would be necessary to continue east (but don't do it; the route starts here). Above this point the first three bolts of Creaking Plank should be readily visible. See the Orbital Decay page for a photo-topo.

Descent: Probably best to rap off the chains, rather than lowering. If you do lower, and the rope is running through the draws, anticipate a very hard pull.

Protection

Eight draws, plus biners for the belay. A small cam or medium size nut may be useful for getting to the first bolt, but the climbing is easy (the exposure, however, is a different matter). Consider using a shoulder-length runner for the third bolt to reduce rope drag later, once above the roof.

I'm not gonna lie, the coolest thing about climbing choss is that you have tons of huge holds. The bottom looks like crap but it climbs really well. This is about 50 times more fun than Hollow Man and only 10 more minutes up the trail. If only the crowds knew...

Yes, it's more fun than Hollow Man, however, it'll never get even close to the traffic of hollowman because hollowman is so easy for groups to lap and TR (creaking plank isnt). There are some awesome moves, but only for three bolts which are followed by face climbing that reminds me of the slips (def not bad). The exposure had me puckered up to the first bolt. If you don't protect it or the belayer and take a fall, you are both going down...way down.

There's a large horn to sling for the belay for those concerned about it, and like the description says, cams or nuts can protect the moves to the first bolt if really worried. No more bolts are warranted, IMO.